Paul Rouse: Why Census findings must make the GAA reconsider the traditions of county bounds 

The population of Dublin is now 1,450,701; in Cork it’s 581,231. Even Longford’s record population growth only takes it to 46,634. That disparity in basic human resources between counties is absolutely stark. And it is unrealistic for it to allow for fair competition on a consistent basis.

NO SIGN OF STOPPING: Dublin's population has now reached 1,450,701. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

The release by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of the preliminary results of the Census of Population 2022 offers a new prism through which to look at the future of Gaelic Games.

The first thing to say is that a most welcome historical trend in this respect is the ongoing rise in population in Ireland.